The Playmakers: Boyle and Kackert shine in bright spotlight

DURHAM — One grew up on the East Coast, the other is from the West Coast. One catches the ball, the other carries it. One is a senior, the other a junior.

There is at least one thing Mike Boyle and Chad Kackert have in common — their ability to make big plays in big games. No need to look further than last week's must-win situation at Maine when they scored two touchdowns apiece for the University of New Hampshire football team in a 28-24 victory that secured a fifth straight NCAA playoff berth.

"That's what great players do," said Wildcat quarterback R.J. Toman. "They make big plays in big games. And I think those two guys are great players."

Boyle leads the Wildcats in all-purpose yards, receiving and scoring while Kackert is second on the team in all-purpose yards and rushing, and fourth in scoring. What makes Kackert's numbers even more impressive is that they've come in just seven games.

"They're doing what they've always done," said UNH coach Sean McDonnell. "They're good football players. And I think good football players find a way to be really good football players in big games. And these two guys haven't disappointed in the last three years."

Despite missing four full games this year with knee and shoulder injuries and a significant portion of another, Kackert is averaging 7.3 yards per carry and 151.6 all-purpose yards per game. Together, they've combined for more than 2,100 all-purpose yards this season for an offense that ranks eighth nationally in scoring.

"I think as an offense we've done a good job this year having the ability to make bigs plays," said Boyle, a tri-captain. "Chad, with his speed, his ability to run down the field and catch the ball or take the handoff from R.J. and run around the end has been huge for our team this year."

Their production has often been crucial to the success of the Wildcats' explosive attack, particularly in critical games. Boyle, a senior wide receiver, caught TD passes of 29 and 22 yards in last week's win over Maine while Kackert, a junior running back, scored on runs of 46 and 18 yards.

"They just add another dimension to our offense where Chad can use his speed and his athletic ability to run the ball very well," Toman said. "He's very dangerous in the open field because very few people can catch him."

"Chad's explosive," said McDonnell. "He can score from any place on the field. Mike is one of those guys who can catch it and run or he can take the speed sweep and go or he can return a kick and go. ... They're different players but they're similar in nature that they've always been able to make big plays."

Boyle's 22-yarder last Saturday against Maine came with just 3:27 left in the fourth quarter and turned out to be the game-winning touchdown. Both have showed a nose for the end zone this season with a combined 19 touchdowns, 12 by Boyle, the former Plymouth High School star who never lost a game in high school. Following two injury-plagued seasons, Boyle has had a breakout campaign at wide receiver.

"Mike's been around the system long enough to know every little nuance about our offense," Toman said. "To know everything is a weapon in itself. There's a reason why he's open on almost every play. He's a smart receiver who just knows how to get open, and knows our offense well enough to be an easy target for me."

"That comes from experience and learning from the older guys when I was younger on how to beat different coverages," Boyle said. "We scheme each week for different coverages. A lot of times we'll find something they kind of sleep on and try to exploit it."

Boyle brought his winning ways to UNH, which plays at Southern Illinois Saturday afternoon (2) in the first round of the NCAA playoffs. Kackert scored 56 touchdowns his senior season at Grace Brethren High School in California, including six in the state championship game.

"For me, it's built confidence in my career," said Kackert, "so I'm not getting nervous when the game's on the line. I think it was 'The Replacements' where they said 'winners always want the ball.' You kind of get that attitude once you've got that confidence. We've got winners on our offense, and we can put the ball in anybody's hands and they'll make something happen."

Both made an immediate impact at the college level. As a redshirt freshman, Boyle ranked eighth nationally in average yards per punt return and took one back all the way in a playoff game against Colgate. When Kackert was a freshman, he scored the winning touchdown in late-season victories over Maine and Hampton in the first round of the playoffs.

"After the first time you see Chad play you know he's a special player," said Boyle, a first-team all-conference pick this year in the Colonial Athletic Association. "He has the ability to make big plays for us with his speed and his balance and his running ability."

Both are having career years. Boyle has caught 56 passes for 926 yards and 10 scores. He is also averaging 16.5 yards per reception. Kackert has rushed for 543 yards and five TDs. A testament to their versatility, Boyle also has two TDs rushing and Kackert two receiving.

Kackert also scored twice in last year's playoff game at top-seeded Northern Iowa, including a 94-yard kick return. Both hope to make an impact Saturday against Southern Illinois, which is riding a seven-game win streak and is 35-4 in its last 39 games at McAndrew Stadium.

"These guys have a knack for making plays," McDonnell said of Boyle and Kackert. "You just hope they continue to do stuff like that in big games. If you believe in history repeating itself, good things happen when they touch the ball."

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.